Can opener



Dec. 4 1923.

H. GARRISQN CAN OPENER Filed Oct. 5. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jfewnan gai wbon.

Dec. 4, 1923. 1,476,360

. H. GARRISON CAN OPENER 7 Filed Oct. 5. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 8 Fig. z 445' T 4 4440 9 qr 6/ Q0445 3p 6 contents.

Patented Dec. 4, 1923.

siren srar HERMAN GARRZSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed Gctober To all whom it may covwcrn:

Be it known that I, HERMAN ijiARRISON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illi nois, have invented certain new and useiu improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This inventionrelates to improvements in that class of manually operated can openers employed for cutting out circular portions of sheet metal cans, and while it is more particularly intended for use in cutting circular incisions in, or cutting out the heads of cylindrical cans, yet it is applicable for use in cutting out curved or circular port-ions of cans of other than cylindrical shape, such as, sardine and herring cans, which are of elongated shapes, as is well known, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and combination of the several parts thereof as will be hereinafter more fully claimed.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a can opener which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and highly etlicient in operation, with its parts so made, arranged and. cooperating one with the other, that it can be used for cutting out the heads of cans of different diameters or sizes, in such a manner as to locate the incisions near the peripheries of the cans, thereby preventing wide margins outwardly of the openings in the cans to retard en'iptying them of their Another objector" the invention is to provide a canopener of such construction that the curved or circular incisions made by the knife or cutting member thereof may be el'fected'concentrically with respect to the circumferences of the cans without the necessity of puncturing them at their exact or absolute centers with the piercing or pointed pivot of the opener.

A further and. important object is the provision of means for so disposing the knife of the opener, during the cutting open action thereof, with respect to that portion of the can to be cut, that the incision will be easily and accurately made and with much less effort and care than is ordinarily re uired.

till another object is to provide a can opener which can be used for cutting the metal of the can in either direction, that is,

to the right or left, thereby adapting it for right or left-handed users.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the following description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate embodiments of the invention- Fig. 1 is a side view of a can opener em.- bodying one form of the invention, showing it and its parts in about one of the initial positions they will occupy relatively to a can in the operation of opening the latter.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of like parts showing the opener and its members in about the positions they will occupy whenthe operation of cutting out the head of a can is begun.

Fig. 3 isa plan vie-w. of the opener.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 4 t of Fig. 3 as indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detached rear face view of the knife or blade of the opener.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on lines 66 of Fig. 5. I

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a modified form of the device.

Fig. 8 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 7. i

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1010 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 11 is a rear face view of the knife or cutter and its carrying block of the modified form of the opener, and

'Fig. 12 is a sectional VlEW' taken on line 12-12 of Fig. 11.

Corresponding numerals of reference re fer to likeparts throughout the different views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the drawings, the handle of the opener is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 15 and may be made of any suitable size, form and material, but of an elongated shape, asshown. In the present instance, I have shown the handle or body of the opener as being constructed of a flat strap or piece of metal bent at about its middle to form two parallel sides 16 and 17 between which sides is located and held in place by rivets 18 or otherwise, a. filling 19 of wood or other suitable material.

As is clearly shown in Fig. i of the draw-' ings, this filling consists of two pieces, one of which is located near the front end of the handle between the sides 16 and 17 thereof, and has abutted against its front end a metallic head 20 which is also located between the sides of the handle or body and firmly secured thereto by means of trans versely disposed rivets 18. This head has secured therein and extended longitudinally from its front end a pointed or spindleshaped piercing pivot 21, which as shown, is slightly forwardly and downwardly deflected from the front end of the head 20 and from the lower surface of the handle. The front or shorter piece of the filling 19 of the handle terminates at the lower portion of its rear end in a downwardly inclined wall 22 and at the upper portion of its rear end in an almost vertical wall 23, but by reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that this wall is not at a true right angle to the. edges of the sides of the handle, but is slightly downwardly inclined, but at a much less degree than the wall 22 of the front end of said filling. The front end of the longer portion of the filling 19 of the handle is spaced from the rear end of the front member of the filling, and is provided in the upper portion of its front end with a transverse angular recess 24 the lower part of which recess forms a step or rest on which the knife or cutting blade of the opener may rest and be held.

Just below the step of the angular recess 2% of the longer piece of the filling 19 of the handle, said filling is provided with a transversely disposed and rearwardly curved cutaway portion 25 for the reception and operation of a pair of rearwardly extended apertured lugs 26 with which the double edged knife or cutting member 27 of the opener is provided near its upper end. These lugs and the cutting member are supported between the sides 16 and 17 of the The lugs 26 of the knife or cutting inembe are so disposed on the rear upper portion thereof to cause the knife or cutting memher to be over-balanced forwardly of its pivot, and in such a manner as not to interfere with the rear upper portion of the knife or cutting member resting on the step or forwardly inclined portion of the recess 24 of the rear filling member of the handle. ll hen the knife or cutting member 27 is in such position as to rest on said step, as shown in Fig, 2 of the drawings, the front surface of the knife will rest against the inclined wall 22 of the front piece of the filling 19, in which position the knife may be held by means of a latch 29 secured at one of its ends to the upper surface of the front filling piece and extended rear vardly and longitudinally therefrom into the open space between the adjacent ends of the filling pieces of the handle. By this arrangement it is manifest that the knife will be securely held in a downwardly and forwardly inclined position and at an acute angle to the lower front portion of the handle, as well as to the piercing pivot 21 of the opener. However, this latch 29 is not absolutely essential for holding the knife against the said step and said inclined wall, for this can be done by the proper manipulation of the handle during the cutting operation of the opener. For instance, when the cutting operation is being performed, the parts will occupy about the positions shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings when it is obvious that by applying slight downward pressure to the handle, the upper surface of the knife 27 will be pressed against the inclined wall 22 and the upper rear portion of the knife a ainst the step located rearwardly and slightly above the pivot of the knife, sufficiently to hold the same.

In Figs. 7 to 12 inclusive is shown a modification in the construction of the device, which consists in the employment of an elongated handle or body which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 30 and comprises a strap or piece of metal bent at about its middle to form a pair of parallel sides 31 and 32, each of which is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 33 which extends from a point near the front end of the handle to about its middle. Located between the free or front ends of the sides 31 and 32 and secured thereto by means of rivets 3a or otherwise, is a metallic head 35 which has imbedded therein one end of a pointed spindle or pivot 21 of similar construction and arrangement with respect to the head 35, as the pivot or spindle 21 shown in the first above described construction with respect to its head 20. In this modified construction, filling pieces 36 and ,37 of wood ,or other suitable material, are interposed between the side pieces 31 and 32 of the handle, and the filling piece 36 is fixed to said pieces by means of rivets 38 or otherwise. The piece 37 has an opening 39 eX- tended vertically therethrough for the reception of a block l0 preferably of metal, which block has imbedded therein one end of a double cutting edge knife blade 2? similar to the one of the first described construction As shown in Fig. 9, this block is mounted in the opening 39 of the filling piece 37 on a transversely disposed pivot 41 which has its bearings in theside walls of the opening 39 of the filling piece 37. The rear end of the opening 39 is provided with a downwardly and forwardly inclined wall 42, and the front wall of the opening 39 is provided with a ledge 43, to fit in an angular recess 44 with which the front portion of the knife carrying block 40 is provided so as to restrict the pivotal movement of said block in one direction. The inclined wall 42 actsas a support for the block when it is in about the position shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, or, in other words, in the position it will assume in the cutting operation of the device. Extended transversely through the-filling member 37 near each of its ends, and also through the slots 33 of the side pieces of the handle, is a screw-bolt 45 each of which has on one of its ends a wing nut 46 by means of which the plates 47 interposed between the heads of the bolts 45, and one of the side pieces, and between the nuts 46 and the other of said side pieces, may be clamped so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the filling piece 37 which carries the knife or cutting member. By this arrangement it is manifest that the knife blade can be adjusted longitudinally with respect to the handle as well as with respect to the pivot 21 so that the device can be used for opening cans of different sizes or diameters.

It will be understood, however, that the wardly of the pivot, thus causing it to depend from the'handle at almost a right angle thereto when the spindle or pivot 21 is being inserted in the head of a can 48 as is shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This construction enables the knife to be automatically located at the point on the head of the can at which the circular incision is to be made. 7

While I have shown the piercing pivot in each of the constructions as being imbedded or molded in its head, and have shown the knife blade of the modified construction as being imbedded or molded in its carrying block, yet I do not desire to be limited to such construction, as I rigidly secure the pivot of either construction to its head in any suitable manner, and may rigidly secure the knife blade of the modified construction to its block in any suitable way.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings, it will be readily understood and clearly seen that as the piercing pivot 21 of either form of the device is deflected at an obtuse angle from the lower surface of the handle and that as the knife blade of each construction is pivotally mounted on the handle for movement longitudinally with respect thereto, and has its cutting edges disposed toward the sides of the handle, and depends from the lower surface thereof, by piercing the head of the can with the pointed pivot 21 at about its center, and by placing the handle in about the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the

point of the knife can be forced through-the metal head of the can near the periphery of the latter when by placing the parts in about the position shown in Fig. 2 of the a right angle to the part of the metal to be cut.

As the pivot 21 is deflected from the plane of the lower surface of the handle, it is man ifest that it can be inserted into the can up to the front end of the handle or head which carries the spindle, thus providing a pivot on which the handle-can be turned so as to cause the knife blade to describe a circle. Furthermore, as the spindle 21 is located at an angle to the plane of the lower surface of the handle, it is apparent that it can be more or less withdrawn from the opening caused thereby in the head of the can so as to cause the knife to cut or describe a larger or smaller circle.

Thus it will be seen that as the size of the circular incision produced'by the knife may be regulated by the proper manipulation of the handle, it will not be necessary for the pivot 21 to be inserted through the exact center of the head of the can.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a can opener of theclass in which a circular cut is effected by mounting the cutting knife on a pointed lever and rotating the lever about an aperture made in the center of the can by the point of the lever; a modification whereby the knife is mounted on a pivot so as to permit a limited amount of rotation in the plane of the lever; the weight of the pivoted element being so disposed that when the lever is held in an erect position to pierce the center of the can the knife will assume a position approximately perpendicular to the lever, and will remain in that relative position while the lever is being rotated in the plane of the cylinder axis of the can to a position at which the point of the knife enters the can; the pointed end of the lever being straight for a sufiicient distance to enable the operator, by partial withdrawal of the lever from the aperture, to tilt the knife at a small angle to the surface of the can, which is its operative position; the pivotal movement of the knife being limited to the positions above indicated by contact with elements of the lever.

2. In a can opener of the class described, a modification whereby the knife is mounted on a pivot so as to permit a limited amount of rotation in the plane of the lever; the weight of the pivoted element being so dis posed that when thelever is held in an erect position to pierce the center of the can the kniie will assume a position approX imately perpendicular to the lever, and will remain in that relative'position while the lever is being rotated in the plane of the cylinder axis of the can to a position at which the point of the knife enters the can; the terminal element of-the lever, which is adapted to enter the can, being so disposed with reference to the remaining partsv of the instrument that when the knife is in its operative position, in which position it forms a small angle with surface of the can,

the terminal element is deflected from a position of parallelism with the surface in which the knife operates; the pivoted movement of the knife being limited to the posi tions above indicated by contact with ele ments of the lever.

3. In. a can opener of the class described, a modificationwhereby the terminal piercing prod is subulate in form, and the knife is mounted on a pivot transverse to the lever, so as to permit a limited amount of rotation, the limit of such rotation as the point moves forward being a position in which the knife is nearly enough perpendicular to the lever to admit of being pried into the surface of the canby a downward movement of the handle, while its limit in the opposite direction is a position in which the knife makes too small an angle with the lever to admit of being pried into the surface, which is its operative position; the weight of the pivoted element being so disposed as to cause the knife to assume a position described as the first limit of rotation when the instrument is held 111 an erect position to pierce the center of the can, and to retain that position while the handle is being rotated downward.

4:. In a can opener of the'class described,

a modification whereby the knife, when in operation, is forwardly inclined to the axis of the lever to such an extent that it is not practicable to pr it into the surface of the can by lowering the handle of the instrument; the knife is mounted on a pivot transverse to the axis of the lever, and the weight of the pivoted element is so disposed that when the lever is raised to an erect position to pierce the center of the can the knife will be rotated by the force of gravity into a position more nearly perpendicular to the lever, in which position it is practicable to pry its point into the surface of the can, this relative position being maintained during the downward rotation of the handle; the rotation of the knife beyond the positions above indicated is impeded by contact wit-h elements of the lever; and the pointed end of the lever is made suitable for insertion into the can to a sufficient depth to permit the longitudinal movement requi site for the adjustment of the knife to its operative position.

In a can opener of that class which comprises a pointed lever for piercing the center of the can and: an attachedcutter designed to make a circular incision; a combination of a practically straight subulate prod forming the pointed end of the lever with a pivotal attachment of the cutting knife'which permits the knife to rotate be tween a position substantially at right angles to the lever and a position in which its point approaches the point of the lever, its rotation beyond these limits being impeded by contact with the body of the instrument; the purpose of providing for said rotation being to enable the knife to be operated at a slant at which it would be impracticable to pry its point into the surface of the can HERMAN GARRISON. 

